New city manager selected

The Fort Bragg City Council announced Monday that Tabatha Miller of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, has accepted an offer to serve as Fort Bragg’s next city manager. Her anticipated start date is March 5.

Outgoing City Manager Linda Ruffing’s last day is planned for Feb. 15.

A reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, just before the City Council meeting, to honor Ruffing for her the 18 and one-half years service, six years as Planning Director and 12 as City Manager.

Following the announcement of Ruffing’s retirement last August, the City retained the executive recruitment firm of Peckham & McKenney to conduct a nationwide search for a new city manager. Over 30 applications were received and, following an initial screening by the executive recruiter, the council selected six candidates for final interviews. The multi-phased final interview process included interviews with the City Council and a “peer panel” comprised of five city managers from the region. Based on those interviews, three candidates were selected to meet with the City’s Management Team and then to participate in a final round of interviews with the council.

The council decided on Miller unanimously.

“We were all very impressed with the high quality candidates that applied for city manager. However, one candidate stood out above the rest — Tabatha Miller,” said Mayor Lindy Peters. “We look forward to having her on board”

Miller

Miller has more than 18 years of experience in municipal government with 12 of those at the department head level. She is currently the administrative services director of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and has served as the finance director of Sedona, Arizona; finance director of Alderwood Water and Wastewater District in Lynwood, Washington; finance director of Burien, Washington; and administrative services finance director of the City of Aspen, Colorado.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Northern Arizona University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Gonzaga University School of Law and is an inactive member of the Washington State Bar.

Miller enthusiastically accepted the city manager position, stating, “I am very excited to join the Fort Bragg community and the City’s management team.”